Mice invade about 21 million homes in the United States every year. And because of the different pests you can have in your home, you might have incurred damages to your books, wires, walls, and other things before you realize the pests are mice. You can know mice are in your home by droppings, gnawing, and scratching around.
Top Signs You Have Mice in Your Apartment
It is good to know what pest you are dealing with before calling the pest control company. Though rat and mice pest control are similar, you need to be specific for effective pest control service.
Foul Odours
You can differentiate mice from rats or other pests by their strong and foul odor. The odor is a pungent smell due to the ammonia in the mice’s urine. You do not have to search corners to perceive the scent because the odor permeates the area whenever they pass by.
Droppings
Mice eat large amounts of food and do not hesitate to excrete their droppings wherever they go. You will find the droppings wherever they go, from the kitchen where they eat food to their nest. Tracing their droppings is a way to know their hiding place.
And you can know if it is a recent infestation by the state of the droppings. Recent droppings are moist and dark, while old droppings are gray and old. So, inspect areas where the new droppings are to locate them.
Gnaw and scratch marks
Mice gnaw and scratch the walls, food packaging, and any obstacle they encounter. Mice gnaw marks are smaller than rats’ marks because rats have larger teeth. So, if you see the light little scratch marks in your home, it points at a recent mice infestation.
Also, mice are nocturnal animals, so if you hear scurrying and scratching sounds at night, the mice are at work.
Nests
Mice build their nest with shredded materials (paper, fabrics, etc.). If you find a pile of these materials in the corner or any other home area, it might mean a mice infestation. You can confirm it with the other signs above; droppings, odors, and gnawing.
Also, the nests might not be in plain sight, so you have to check hidden areas for the nest. Mice usually prefer dark and warm places like the cavity walls, ceilings, floorboards, etc.
Trails
Mice leave trails with their footprints, urine stains, and droppings. And you can easily notice the trails in dusty areas. You can place flours or powdery substances in the suspected area to confirm the activity. You should see their track the following day if they are in your home.
Conclusion
If you notice any of these signs indicating mice infestation in your home, you should take action as soon as possible to prevent further damage to your home. Because the longer mice stay in your home, the more they breed, and the harder it is to get rid of them. Check here for pest control services today.
